Irish Hockey Plays St. Cloud State Today

Notre Dame begins play in the NCAA Tournament today -- down the Toll Road in Toledo, OH.  The #1 seeded Fightin' Irish (CCHA Champions) will be taking on the WCHA Champions from St. Cloud State.

There isn't any national TV coverage today -- everyone can watch it on ESPNU (tomorrow) at Noon ET.  Those who have access to WHME-TV 46 can watch it LIVE today beginning at 1:30 PM ET.

Here's the stat of the day -- Notre Dame a #1 seed is 2 - 4 against teams in the NCAA Tournament.  St. Cloud State a #4 seed is 9-7-1 against teams in the NCAA Tournament.  We have our hands full today!

Here is the media coverage this week from Fighting Irish Digital Media:

LINK:  PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  IRISH IN TOLEDO ON FRIDAY

Muffet's IRISH Play at Noon Sunday on ESPN

The #1 seeded and #2 ranked Notre Dame Fightin' Irish take on the Kansas Jayhawks -- for the first time ever -- in a SWEET SIXTEEN game Easter Sunday in Norfolk, VA.  The Jayhawks become the 197th different opponent in the history of women's basketball at Notre Dame.

The Jayhawks are 20 - 13 on the season and are led by Monica Engelman who is averaging 18 points a game in the tournament.  They start two 6'-3" forwards -- so they'll have a slight height advantage on the IRISH.  Here's what the Lawrence, KS media has to say about today's game:


LINK:  LEARN MORE HERE ABOUT THE JAYHAWKS

LINK:  JAYHAWKS LEAVE TO FACE ND

LINK:  UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN

Welcome Katie Paige to the Notre Dame Family!

This morning around 10:45 AM ET -- Katie Paige, a senior at Ann Arbor Pioneer HS -- signed her "acceptance letter" to attend the University of Notre Dame.  Katie chose to sign the letter at the Grotto.  A special moment!

That's Katie's dad Patrick -- proudly standing with a member of Notre Dame's Class of 2017.

Domer Plays Big for USA in Match With Mexico

Matt Besler '09, earned his "stars and stripes" this past Tuesday night when he played all ninety minutes for TEAM USA (his first start for USA in a World Cup Qualifier) in America's 0 - 0 tie with Mexico at Aztec Stadium in Mexico City.

Besler, an All-American with the IRISH -- is the first Notre Dame student-athlete to ever play in a World Cup qualifier for any nation.  Justin Morrow '10, is also a member of TEAM USA but he's yet to see the field in a World Cup Qualifier.

Congratulations Matt!

LINK: MATT BESLER -- NOTRE DAME ALUM

Coach Kelly "Post Practice" Press Conference

Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly met with the media today after the Wednesday morning practice.  During the session with the media he announced the transfer of a couple of players and confirmed the injuries to Chase Hounshell and Amir Carlisle.

LINK:  COACH KELLY

LINK:  PRACTICE VIDEO

Joe Montana Inducted Into California HOF

Former Notre Dame QB and Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana -- was just inducted into the California Hall of Fame.  Here's a link to an interview of Joe at the event.  The photo above shows Montana (on the left) with fellow Hall of Fame inductee Warren Beatty.

LINK:  MONTANA IN CALIFORNIA HALL OF FAME

Manti Te'o Runs a 4.69 Forty Today at ND...

The University of Notre Dame hosted a PRO DAY today for NFL Scouts to check in on former members of the Irish football program as they prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft.

THE STORY OF THE DAY:  The forty heard round the world!  What a difference a tenth of a second means for Manti -- could be millions...

Here's a link to the media coverage so far:


LINK:  MORE FROM PRO-DAY

LINK:  HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY'S PRO-DAY

LINK:  MANTI TEO MAKES AMENDS

LINK:  NFL.COM -- BIG DAY FOR MANTI

LINK:  YAHOO SPORTS

LINK:  CBS SPORTS 

LINK:  NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Manti Te'o and Jon Gruden Tonight at 7 PM ET

Folks, Manti Te'o will be under the microscope tonight with Jon Gruden -- it's good stuff!

Here's a link to sneak preview of what you'll see tonight at 7 PM ET on ESPN:


LINK:  JON GRUDEN WITH MANTI TE'O

Notre Dame's NFL Pro Day -- Adidas Gear

Adidas never misses an opportunity -- here's what the Notre Dame senior football players are wearing today inside the Loftus Athletics Complex at the NFL PRO DAY...

LINK:  NFL PRO DAY -- MANTI RUNS A 4.71 

The IRISH Spread the SPIRIT in Iowa City!

The University of Notre Dame's cheerleaders, leprechaun and pep band visited Regina Elementary School in Iowa City yesterday, while waiting for tonight's NCAA Tournament game -- pretty cool scene!

LINK:  THE FIGHTING IRISH SPIRIT

Muffet's IRISH on ESPN2 Tonight @ 9:40 ET

The NCAA Tournament continues this evening for the #2 ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame -- as they play a true "road game" tonight taking on the Iowa Hawkeyes (on their home floor) in a battle to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

LINK:  IOWA "NOTHING TO LOSE..."

LINK:  GAME PREVIEW

LINK:  PRE-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

LINK:  GAME NOTES

Spring Practice -- Video Highlights From Today

Thought you'd enjoy this video -- especially the pace and spirit from today's action!

LINK:  ND FOOTBALL

A Tradition of Excellence: ND Womens' Hoops

Here's a short video produced by Notre Dame for the women's basketball team as they prepare for the NCAA Women's National Championship.  Enjoy!

LINK:  A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE

Pro Football Talk's Latest NFL Mock Draft

Notre Dame football fans will enjoy this look at the upcoming NFL Draft:

LINK:  FIRST ROUND TALENT IN SOUTH BEND

It's Time to Light Up the GRACE HALL #1 Sign!

The Notre Dame Men's Lacrosse team is the #1 ranked team in the country this morning!  The latest poll just came out and Kevin Corrigan's IRISH are #1!

LINK:  NOTRE DAME #1 IN THE COUNTRY!

Irish Hockey a #1 Seed in NCAA Tournament

The newly crowned CCHA Playoff Champions were awarded a #1 seed last night in the upcoming run to the NCAA's FROZEN FOUR.  Notre Dame will play St. Cloud State in Toledo, OH this Saturday in the single elimination tournament.

Here's a link to the teams selected to compete in the NCAA Men's Hockey National Championship -- along with some reaction from Coach JacksoN:

LINK:  THE ICY ROAD TO THE FROZEN FOUR

LINK:  COACH JACKSON REACTION

Notre Dame Beats UT Martin 97 - 64 in NCAA

The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame won their first game of the NCAA Tournament by 33 -- as they put away University Tennessee Martin in Iowa City.

Freshman Jewell Loyd led the IRISH with 27 points on 10 for 15 shooting from the floor.  Notre Dame will play the winner of the Miami, FL vs. Iowa game on Tuesday night.

LINK:  ESPN COVERAGE

LINK:  POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE 

LINK:  BOX SCORE

Skylar Diggins' NCCA Tourney Blog for ESPNW

Notre Dame All-American Skylar Diggins is back with the gang at ESPNW -- publishing a blog about her experiences for what IRISH fans hope will be a long NCAA run.  Here's yesterday's blog post:

LINK:  SKYLAR DIGGINS' BLOG

Notre Dame Wins Last-Ever CCHA Mason Cup!

Jeff Jackson's #9 ranked Fighting Irish hockey team won the last ever MASON CUP today over Michigan by the score of 3 - 1 -- as the CCHA played it's final game at Joe Louis Arena after 42 years.  It's the third CCHA TITLE for Notre Dame.

IRISH goalie STEVEN SUMMERHAYS was OUTSTANDING --- making some huge saves in the third period!

Notre Dame as the CCHA Champion gets an automatic bid to the NCAA National Championship -- which begins next week.  The IRISH will go into the tournament having won nine straight games!

Michigan -- which had won nine straight -- had to beat ND to earn a bid to the NCAA Championship.  The IRISH put an end to Michigan's 22 year streak of making the NCAA tournament.

The NCAA Hockey National Championship field will be announced this evening at 9 PM ET on ESPNU.


LINK:  GAME HIGHLIGHTS 

LINK:  POST GAME CELEBRATION 

The Dance Begins @ 5 PM Today for Lady Irish

Muffet McGraw's Fightin' Irish tip off their annual run for a National Championship today in Iowa City at 5:05 PM ET against the University of Tennessee Martin.  UTM has two 20+ point scorers in their starting line-up who are in the TOP TEN in the country in scoring.  No other team in the country can make this claim...

Should be an interesting match-up.  The game will be televised LIVE on ESPN2.

LINK:  NOTRE DAME vs. UTM